Experts Gather, Ambush at Eagle Sorrow Gorge

While Ning Chuan was annihilating the bandits of Second Dragon Mountain, clearing the battlefield, and his strength was soaring.

In Qingshan County, the Imperial Guard's yamen.

Leng Hanshuang's expression was stern, her gaze sharp as lightning, as she reviewed case files.

Files were piled high before her, with Xiao Lian listlessly accompanying her by the side.

"Miss, you've been looking at these for a day and a night. The sky is about to break, how much longer do you plan to keep reading?" Xiao Lian asked, yawning.

Hearing Xiao Lian's words, Leng Hanshuang slowly closed the files, the sternness on her face gradually receding, replaced by a hint of gentleness. She said softly:

"This Qingshan County has officials colluding with bandits, causing the people to suffer. All leads point to the Han family, yet we can't find any crucial evidence?"

Xiao Lian walked over, tugged at Leng Hanshuang's arm, and said coquettishly:

"Miss, the Han family is known as 'Three Dukes and Eight Orders, a Martial Saint lineage.' Even if we find evidence, we won't be able to bring them down. Miss shouldn't have come to this godforsaken place to suffer. Let's go back, okay? Please?"

Leng Hanshuang indulgently pinched Xiao Lian's nose.

"You, you can't even endure this little hardship. You must know that in this Great Ming empire, countless commoners are barely clothed and starving. We who receive the emperor's pay must be loyal to the emperor..."

"Alright, alright, Miss, Xiao Lian knows she was wrong. You're doing this again!"

Before Leng Hanshuang could finish speaking, Xiao Lian quickly shook her arm, repeatedly begging for mercy.

She got a headache just listening to her miss lecture about these grand principles.

Seeing Xiao Lian like this, Leng Hanshuang shook her head with a hint of helplessness and changed the subject, asking:

"Have we found out Ning Chuan's background clearly?"

"We have! I wanted to give it to you last night, but you were too busy to pay attention to me."

"Look, the information on this kid Ning Chuan is strange everywhere!"

As Xiao Lian spoke, she took out a file and handed it over.

Leng Hanshuang took the file and opened it. She saw it written on the file:

"Ning Chuan, 16 years old, from Ning Family Village, Qingshi Town. Orphaned, no master, no lineage. Was frail and sickly since childhood. Did not leave Ning Family Village before the age of 16."

Leng Hanshuang's brows furrowed slightly, and she asked:

"He could kill the Second Boss of Three Tiger Mountain with a headbutt, clearly having practiced hardening techniques. This is called having no master or lineage? This is called being frail and sickly?"

"The villagers we found in Ning Family Village all said so!"

Leng Hanshuang pondered for a moment, took out a blank file, and changed "frail and sickly since childhood" to "born with divine strength."

She then handed it to Xiao Lian and lit the old file with the candlelight, continuing:

"We are alone and outnumbered, with no one trustworthy under us. Everything we do is hindered.

"Now is a time when we need people. I see this person has some integrity. If we cultivate him well, he might become a good helper. Has he arrived yet?"

Xiao Lian giggled, "He's here, he's here! I knew Miss had discerning eyes and was a good judge of character!" As she spoke, she handed over a small bamboo tube.

Leng Hanshuang took the bamboo tube, pulled out a slip of paper from it, and opened it. She saw it written:

"Ning Chuan passed through Hanshan Town, denounced a true man for not associating with bandits, forcefully refused the invitation of the 'straw bag' strategist, and killed Green Wolf and Black Tiger!"

Leng Hanshuang was stunned, and a smile gradually spread across her cold, clear face.

The next day, the merchant caravan set off again.

Shopkeeper Li ordered his men to tie up the armor and weapons, loading them onto the warhorses.

He also assigned many experienced elders to lead the horses. The caravan was grand and spectacular.

Zhang Dashan and the joint defense team were all wearing armor and riding warhorses, looking quite imposing.

Ning Chuan then had Zhang Dashan dispatch several riders to patrol back and forth around the caravan, giving it the air of a military expedition.

Ning Chuan was in high spirits. He got off the carriage and walked with the caravan members, chatting.

He also took the opportunity to learn about the local customs and observe the mountains and rivers of this Great Ming world.

Zhang Dashan and Shopkeeper Li stayed by his side, respectfully accompanying him.

"Shopkeeper Li, what other bandit forces are there on the road from here to the county town?" Ning Chuan asked.

"Replying to Lord Ning, there is only Second Dragon Mountain. Both leaders have been killed by you, sir. This journey should be without further incident!"

Ning Chuan pondered.

"It's not that simple. The 'straw bag' strategist escaped and will definitely not give up. He will surely stir up trouble again. Next, I wonder what underhanded tricks he will use?"

"And I don't know the way, and I have Big Dog and Xiao Hua with me. It's inconvenient to leave the caravan."

He then asked Shopkeeper Li, "Do you have a map to the county town?"

Shopkeeper Li quickly replied, "As it happens, I do."

Shopkeeper Li found a map, and Ning Chuan examined it carefully.

According to the map, the road to the county town was mostly flat, with only one place that caught Ning Chuan's attention.

After careful study, Ning Chuan pointed to a spot near Second Dragon Mountain on the map and asked:

"Shopkeeper Li, why is this place called Eagle Sorrow Gorge?"

"Lord Ning, Eagle Sorrow Gorge is the crucial passage to Qingshan County. The cliffs on both sides are steep, making it difficult even for eagles to cross, hence the name Eagle Sorrow Gorge."

"The bandits from Second Dragon Mountain have long held this place under their control. Any merchant caravan that passes through here gets fleeced dry."

Hearing this, Ning Chuan immediately understood. The Straw Bag Strategist would undoubtedly set up an ambush in Eagle Sorrow Gorge.

Thinking of the Straw Bag Strategist, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.

"Straw Bag Strategist, what a good person. Rushing Attribute Points right to my doorstep?"

"Where can I find such a kind person? I'm almost reluctant to kill him, caw caw..."

Ning Chuan laughed uncontrollably, like a pig squealing, as he thought of his happy moment.

Another two days passed, and the convoy arrived before Eagle Sorrow Gorge.

"Halt the convoy! Eagle Sorrow Gorge is just a few miles ahead!" Zhang Dashan shouted.

They found a small hill in a wide-open area to camp, set up their barricades, dug many pitfalls, and the merchant caravan settled down.

Ning Chuan stood in the camp and looked towards Eagle Sorrow Gorge. The canyon was deep and dark, its end invisible from the outside.

The cliffs on both sides of the canyon were steep, the mountains tall and densely forested. The terrain was indeed very treacherous.

If the merchant caravan were to travel at the bottom of the canyon, the consequences would be unimaginable if someone were to roll down giant rocks from above.

Meanwhile, inside Eagle Sorrow Gorge, A group of people gathered, hidden by the trees, observing the camp from halfway up the mountain.

Leading them was a middle-aged scholar, the Straw Bag Strategist from the county yamen.

The rest were experts sent by the bandit forces within Qingshan County.

The number of people who came this time was not large; the focus was on quality over quantity. The lineup was terrifying.

Six of Qingshan County's eight major bandit forces, excluding Second Dragon Mountain and Three Tiger Mountain.

Each of the other six sent their Second Boss, a Martial Saint of the seventh rank, along with ten peak eighth-rank followers.

The Straw Bag Strategist looked at the experts before him, who were all respectfully deferential to him. He felt smug, his lips slowly curling upwards as he gently fanned himself.

"Little brat Ning Chuan, daring to offend me, this will definitely be the last foolish thing you ever do in your life!"